A contract extension that had been rumored to be in the works for a while was completed on Wednesday when the Detroit Red Wings announced a new deal with big defenseman Jonathan Ericsson.

The extension is for the next six seasons, keeping the 29-year-old Ericsson under contract well into his mid-30s in Detroit.

The Red Wings, like most teams, don't release financial details but Helene St. James of the Detroit Free-Press reports the contract is for $25.5 million, carrying a $4.25 million salary cap hit for the duration. Not bad for a guy who was the 2002 NHL Draft's Mr. Irrelevant.

Ericsson has seen his role expand greatly since the retirement of Nicklas Lidstrom in Detroit and he has responded pretty well. This season he has playedonly 15 games because of injury but is averaging a career high 22:16 of ice time per game. He has never been much of a producer on offense, this season he has a goal and four assists in those 15 contests.

It could be another great moment in a stretch of them for Ericsson. He recently became a dad and he's a hopeful to play for a stacked Swedish squad in the upcoming Olympics. You can add long-term Red Wings to the mix.